Students use existing computer software (e.g. Maple and Matlab) to solve engineering problems. The prerequisites listed above are important for providing a context for the problems, as well as the ability to obtain closed-form solutions (Math 222) that can be used to compare to numberical results obtained with software.

No text; materials provided as necessary

Course Objectives: It is the instructor's intention to familiarize students with...

several modern tools for problem solving.

several fundamental numerical methods used for problem solving.

fundamental problem solving skills such as independently checking results, visualization of results, and choosing appropriate algorithms.

the use of problem solving skills for solving realistic engineering problems.

Course Outcomes: students must be able to...

solve calculus problems using symbolic computational software.

symbolically and numerically solve for roots of nonlinear algebraic equations.

fit linear and nonlinear functions to experimental data.

symbolically and numerically solve first and second order ordinary differential equations.

symbolically and numerically solve systems of lined equations.

demonstrate ability to visualize (graphically) the results of numerical solutions.

write procedural programs using flow control structures to implement algorithms.

demonstrate the above skills using two different tools.

apply these techniques to engineering problems.

Class meets twice a week for 50 minutes/session in a PC-equipped classroom. Instructor and students work on exercises together, reinforcing lessons in hands-on activities. One on-line lecture per week covers theoretical curriculum.

The following statement indicates which of the following considerations are included in this course: economic, environmental, ethical, political, societal, health and safety, manufacturability, sustainability.

NEEP 271 focuses on using existing computer tools to solve engineering problems. It does not address any of the supplemental topics (economic, environmental, etc.) listed by ABET. Student gains experience working in teams in one lab per week.

NE271 is focused to satisfy educational objectives for both NE and EM undergraduate degrees via computer-assisted problem solving and design-oriented group projects and reports. It prepares students for more advanced courses in their respective fields and indirectly allows for career information. It does so by training them to use computational tools that can be used in a large variety of physical problems in EMA and NE career-related fields.